Furniture



7 Dec. 23, 1937. H. E. AULSBROOK ZAMAZZ FURNITURE Filed Jan. 24, 1935 H ATZORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE 5 Claims.

My invention relates to furniture and particularly to a means for securing double conical springs to metal straps extending across the frame thereof.

Heretofore, double conical springs have seldom been employed with single straps which bridge opposite sides of a frame of furniture or the like. 'Ihe single conical spring has usually been employed since it lends itself to ready application by its small end to such straps. When double conical springs have been employed heretofore they; have usuallybeen supported by a rigid member having upwardly extending end portions terminating in flanges overlying the upper edge of the frame structure elements which engaged opposite sides of the springs to support them in spaced relation to each other.

In practicing my present invention, I employ a relatively flexible metal strap suitably secured at opposite ends to opposite sides of the furniture frame element. Double conical springs are disposed in spaced relation to one another on the upper surfaceof the strip, preferably with strips of web material disposed crosswise of the straps.

interposed between the springs and the strap. Ties straddle the strap and engage the bottom turns of the springs and are secured to each other or to the straps for securely fastening the springs relative to each other and to the metal straps and web strips.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are; to provide a spring engaging tie which straddles the straps and engages the springs to retain the springs in fixed relation to each other and to the straps; to provide Y-shaped tie elements. which span the strap and engage the lower turn of the spring and each other and/or the strap for fixing the spring relative to the strap; to provide Y-shaped ties which span the strap and engage the bottom turn of a double conical spring and each other to space the springs and secure them to the straps; to provide individual clips which span the strap and engage the lower turn of the springs and the strap in such manner as to fix the spring thereto; to provide a double Y-shaped tie which spans the strap and engages the lower turn of adjacent springs to retain the springs in mm fixed relation to the strap; and, in general, to provide securing means for double conical springs which are simple in construction, economical of manufacture and are readily applied to secure springs in fixed relation to a strap. Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be either specifically pointed out 55 or will become apparent when referring, for a Fig. 5 is a tie element similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4, showing a modified form thereof.

Fig. 6 is a View of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, employing the tie element of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view 'of structure similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, showing a further modified form of my invention.

Fig; 8 is a perspective view of one of the tie elements employed in the construction shown in Fig.7.

As illustrated in Fig. l, a plurality of spaced parallel relatively thin and flexible metal straps l0 extend between the frame elements l l and i2 of a piece of furniture, these straps being suitably secured at opposite ends to the frame members I I and I2 in any suitable manner, that shown forming no part of the present invention. The present invention includes means for securing and spacing the double conical springs l3 on the straps ID. Web strips I4 are preferably disposed normal to the straps H], as illustrated in Fig. 1, below the springs [3 to prevent the springs from producing undesirable sounds in use as might occur if directly contacting the metal straps ill.

In'Figs. 3 and 4, I have illustrated one form of tie elements which I utilize in securing the springs relative to the straps. In Fig. 3, I have illustrated a tie element l5 which engages the endmost spring at the end of the strap 10. The element is of Y shape and made preferably of spring wire, the central branch l6 of which is reversely bent at I! to provide an upstanding hook while the arms I8 and it are reversely bent at the ends to provide downwardly projecting hooks 2|.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated'interrelated tie elements 22 and 23, tie element 23 being of the same general type as the tie element i5 previously described with the exception that the reversely bent end portion 24 thereof is bent down inthe same direction as the hooked end portions 2|. Tie element 22 is likewise of the same general Y shape as the other tie elements with downwardly extending end portions 2 I, but its central branch portion 25 is spaced apart to receive the end 2 of a tie element 23 therein. The tie elements thus constructed are utilized for securing the springs i3 relative to the straps ID by being located along the lower faces of the straps iii and having their hooked end portions 2i extending upwardly beyond opposite side edges of the straps I and into hook-engaging relation with respect to opposite sides of the lower turn of cooperating springs [3 on the upper surface of the straps as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In employing the tie elements 22 .and 23 to se cure springs to the upper face of a strap It, a pair of springs l3 are placed upon the upper surface of the strap i3, preferably with a webbing strip l disposed between each spring l3 and the strap iii, and with the springs l3 in more closely adjacent relationship than they will assume in the finished product. The hooked end 24 of a tie element 23 is then inserted into and between the opposite side of the central branch portion 25 of a tie element 22. The hooked end portions 2! of the tie elements 22 and 23 are then swung upwardly relative to the point of connection of the tie elements and are caused to project upwardly in straddled relation beyond opposite edges of the strap it between the aforementioned pair of springs l3 and into adjacent relationship with respect to adjacent sides of the lower turns of the springs. The hooked ends 2! are thereupon hooked over the corresponding lower turns of the springs l3 and the springs [3 are thereupon moved apart so as to pull the stem portions of the elements 22 and 23 up into contact with the lower face of the strap III.

This being accomplished, another spring I3 is then placed in relatively close relationship to one of the above mentioned springs l3, on the upper face of the strap i0, and another pair of tie elements 22 and 23 are engaged in the above described manner with the lower turns of the last positioned spring and the previously described spring next adjacent thereto, whereupon these last mentioned two springs are pulled apart to similariy bring the point of connection between these last mentioned tie elements 22 and 23 up into contact with the lower face of the strap I 0. This process is repeated until as many springs iii are assembled upon the upper face of a strap it! as may be required in the particular instance.

This being done, a tie element i5 positioned below the strap I0 outwardly beyond an endmost spring 13 is moved to position the hooked ends 2| thereof upwardly beyond opposite side edges of the strap HI and into engaging relationship with the adjacent side of the lowermost coil of said end spring, and its hooked end I1 is thereupon moved upwardly into hooked relation with respect to the margins of an aperture 28 provided for its reception adjacent the corresponding end of the strap Hi. This is easily accomplished because of the fact that the entire spring assembly including the ties may be shifted on the strap iii toward the aperture 25 to permit the introduction of the end I! into the aperture 26.

Upon establishing one of the tie elements E5 in the manner thus described, the entire spring assembly is thereupon shifted along the strap it toward the opposite end thereof. Another tie eiement I5 is then positioned to bring its hooked ends 2! into similarly engaging relation with respect to the endmost side of the lower turn of the coil spring [3 at the opposite end of the strap, but in this case if the tie elements previously described have been formed to their proper lengths in relation to the apertures 26 formed in the opposite end portion of the strap 10, the hooked end i? of the last mentioned tie member I5 will not be insertable into the corresponding aperture 26 without stretching the entire spring assembly including the springs l3 and the various tie elements I5, 22 and 23 lengthwise of the strap in beyond their normal positions. This stretching, however, is more or less readily efiected upon suitable pressure being applied thereto lengthwise of the strap Iii due to more or less ready distortion of the lower coil of the springs l3 out of their normally true circular formation and at the same time effecting a greater or lesser reduction of the normal angle existing between the branches l8 and I 9 of the various tie members and the central branch portions thereof. This stretching of the assembly Will permit the hooked end ll of the last mentioned tie member I5 to be inserted into its corresponding aperture 26 whereupon release of the stretching force mentioned the spring assembly will tend to return to its normal position. This normal position, however, is preferably such that a small amount of tension still exists tending to pull the lower turns of the coils l3 out of their true circular shape and tending to reduce the normally free angular relation between the branches I8 and IQ of the tie elements and their central branch portions. In this manner it is assured that no rattling will ever occur between the various tie members and springs l3 and strap Hi.

It will be observed that because of the preferred relative width of the strap H] with respect to the diameter of the lower turns of the springs i3 as indicated in the drawing, the hooked end portions 2| engage such lower turns at points materially spaced from the center of the strap and consequently lateral displacement of the springs IS on the strap I0 is effectively prevented by the angularity existing between the points of the lower turns of the springs l3 engaged by the hooked ends 2! as compared to the edge of the strap l0. Likewise, because of the fact that the main body portions of the various tie members are located below the strap ill, the springs H are effectively maintained downwardly into contact with the upper face of the strap ill or the webs M interposed therebetween. Accordingly, by this simple means the springs l3 are securely and effectively secured and positioned in proper relationship with respect to each other and to the strap II].

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown a further form of tie element wherein two wires 28 and 29 are intertwined at 3| to form a unit element with upstanding arms 32 at each end, the ends of the arms being spaced apart to straddle opposite edges of the strap ii] and reversely bent upwardly to provide hooks 33 at the top ends of the tie. These end hooks 33 of the ties readily span the edges of the strap 50 and, because they are formed by bending the ends of the wires upwardly they may be caused to engage the lower turn of the springs [3 without any articulation of the tie element to thereby retain the springs IS in predetermined spaced relation fixed to the strap, End tie members 34 are employed and which are similar to the tie member I5 illustrated in Fig. 3 excepting that the ends are reversely bent upwardly at the top instead of downwardly to provide hooks 33' thereon which readily span opposite edges of and engage the lower turns of the end springs in the'manner illustratedin" Fig. 6. The end I? of these tie members 34 each engage an aperture in the strap l coresponding to the apertures 26 previously described for the-purpose of retaining the springs relative thereto. a a In Figs. 7 and 8 I have illustrated a difieren form of my invention wherein each ofthespringsl flexibility to the same.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, each of these tie members is formed from a single piece of wire bent upon itself at its midpoint to form a portion 36 and then downwardly in parallelism as at 31.

The two branches of the wire'are then bent outwardly away from each from the bottom of the portions 3'2 as at 33, in an angular direction with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the tie member, and each branch is then reversely bent as at 39 to the opposite side of the tie member and the free end portions of each branch are then bent upwardly as at 40 and then horizontally as at 4| away from the main body portion of the tie member and in substantial parallelism of the centerline thereof. From this it will be apparent that the portions 36 and 31 form a hook at one end of the tie member and facing away therefrom while the portions 40 and 4| also form hooks which face in the opposite direction at the opposite end of the tie member.

In employing these tie members to secure a spring I3 to the strap ID, the strap I0 is centrally provided with one or more openings to receive the hooked ends 36-41 of a cooperating pair of the members, a pair of such openings 42 being shown by way of illustration in adjacent but spaced relation with respect to each other longitudinally of the strap In on either side of the axial line of the spring IS in its desired position. A pair of tie members 35 are then placed below the strap H! with the hooked ends 36-31 thereof in opposed relation, the portions 36 are inserted upwardly each through its corresponding opening 42 with the body of the corresponding tie member extending radially outwardly of the spring I3 along the axis of the strap l0 and the end portions 4| are caused to pass upwardly beyond opposite sides of the strap l0 and are hooked over the lower turn of thetspring l3. In hooking the ends 4| over the lower turn of the spring l3, either or both the ties 35 and the lower turn of the spring l3 may be distorted, the cross portions 39 of the tie members particularly adapting the tie members to be longitudinally contracted to permit this step of assembly. It may also be noted that the portions 4|, when the tie members 35 are in their free state, are preferably positioned closer together than the width of the strap It! so that in assembling a tie member to the strap Ill the portions 4| must be sprung outwardly in order to project them upwardly beyond the side edges of the strap and when released resiliently clamp the opposite edges of the strap In between them.

The tie members 35 are so proportioned with respect to the diameter of the lower turns of the springs l3 that when they are assembled in the position indicated in Fig. '7 they are maintained in partially longitudinally contracted position, this insuring jagainstlooseness and rattling of the parts and will insure that the parts will be resiliently maintained in the proper position at all times and without danger of becoming displaced.

Withthis construction, as'in the previously 'described construction, the outer hooked ends of the tie members 35 cooperating with the lower turns of the corresponding spring l3 will-maintainthe spring l3 transversely of the strap Hi and inztheconstruction illustrated in Fig. 7 a pair of tie members 35 cooperate directly with the strap I0 to maintain the position of each spring l3 1ongitudinally of the strap.

While I have described and illustrated several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a metal'strap extending between the sides of a frame of an element to be upholstered, double conical springs disposed thereon, tie elements positioned on the opposite side of the straps than that having the springs disposed thereon having branches which span the strap and engage the lower turn of each spring, and means integral with each of said tie elements engaging cooperating means of another tie element.

2. The combination with a metal strap extending between the sides of a frame of an element to be upholstered and having apertures therein adjacent its end, double conical springs disposed thereon, tie elements positioned on the opposite side of the strap than that having the springs disposed thereon having branches which span the strap and engage the lower turn of the spring, means on said tie elements engaged with each other and second tie elements spanning the strap and engaging the lower turn of V the end springs and having additional hooks which terminally engage the walls of said apertures in the strap with opposite sides of the hooks overlying opposite sides of the strap for retaining the springs against longitudinal movement relative to the strap.

3. The combination with a strap for interconnecting the frame of an element to be upholstered, of web elements terminally secured relative to the frame and intersecting the strapsubstantially at right angles above and in contact therewith, a spring disposed at each point of intersection between the strap and web elements, tie elements spanning said strap and interconnecting the lower turns of the springs to each other and to the strap, and additional tie elements spanning said strap and engaging the lower turn of the endmost springs for fixing all of said springs against movement longitudinally of the strap.

4. The combination with a plurality of straps disposed across a frame of an element to be upholstered, of web elements disposed across said frame above and in angular relation to said straps, a spring disposed at each point of intersection of the strap and web elements and resting on said web element on one side of said straps, tie elements disposed on the opposite relation to retain said springs against longitudinal movement relative to said strap.

5. The combination with a plurality of metal straps extending between the frame members of an element to be upholstered, of web elements extending likewise and intersecting said straps at an angle above and in contact therewith, a double conical spring disposed on one side of said straps and said Webs at each point of inter- 10 section, tie elements means disposing on the 0pposite side of said straps spanning said straps and interconnectingly engaging the lower turns of adjacent springs for holding the springs in a spaced relation, end tie elements engaging the lower turn of endmost springs, and means fixing the end tie elements relative to said strap for retaining the springs against longitudinal movement relative thereto. 

